A Recipe reflecting Life

October 27, 2018 / Rainee / 10 Comments

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I was cooking dinner this evening – Tuna Mornay – an old favourite. Now, over time I have been careful about particular food items and sensitivities. The mornay starts with cooking the onion in butter. Next is to add flour to make a roux (butter and flour mixed together to make a paste). I used gluten-free flour. All good so far.

Next item to add was the milk – soy milk of course. Then I added the tuna, cheese, spices, corn and peas.

An then I laughed at myself. Why did I bother with the gluten-free flour and the soy milk when I had already included a whole onion?

red brown white and purple onions and garlic displayed

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Then I got philosophical. We take so much care in looking after very specific aspects of our lives while we cannot see the bit that really needs attention (the equivalent of the onion) in our lives.

I guess this is how most of us manage day-to-day life. We are not always attentive to the bigger picture – especially if our thoughts are busy with a million distractions. We keep hearing about the importance of being mindful of the present moment but it often alludes me still.

Deconstructed Pavlova Icecream

January 28, 2018 / Rainee / 7 Comments

I had too much pavlova left over after Australia Day and I didn’t want to throw it out. I came up with an idea that could work.

Step 1 – left over pavlova and 1/2 tub of icecream

Step 2 – deconstruct

Step 3 – mix it up

Step 4 – add some chocolate Flake pieces

Step 5 – best of all: eat up!

Anyone can boil an egg, right?

November 26, 2016 / Rainee / 1 Comment

I always thought boiling eggs was easy. Put them in a pot and boil them! But what if someone wants SOFT boiled eggs? I couldn’t crack it! They were always too hard. I remembered that when I was younger I used to have an egg timer to time my eggs. I wonder if they still make them.

Anyway, my husband had a better idea and this is how we do it now …

Favourite food

May 12, 2015May 12, 2015 / Rainee / 4 Comments

If you could only eat one food for an entire year, what would you choose?

Here is my choice :-). What would your choice be?

(Image from http://www.roadfood.com)

Featured

Basil going to seed

January 20, 2015 / Rainee / Leave a comment

One of the basil plants in the garden is going to seed. The yellow ball (magnified x 250) is one of the seeds.

Make me smile

August 8, 2014 / Rainee / 11 Comments

If you’re feeling blah, what is the one thing you do that you can count on to put a smile on your face?

I think this would do the trick for me :-). What about you?

Keeping the creativity going …

February 22, 2014February 22, 2014 / Rainee / 5 Comments

I have been making a special effort to cook something different each week that I have never cooked before.

Tonight I am cooking RICE PORK LARB – click HERE for original recipe and instructions

INGREDIENTS

1.5 cups of jasmine rice, rinsed

I tablespoon of peanut oil

I tablespoon of chopped lemon-grass (I will have to see if my neighbour has some or I will be using a lemon!)

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

500g of pork mince

I red onion (I hope a brown one will do!), halved, thinly sliced

1/2 small pineapple, chopped

1/4 cup fish sauce

2 teaspoons of caster sugar (ordinary sugar will have to do!)

1 tablespoon of light, soy sauce

2 limes, juiced

12 small cos lettuce leaves (I only have iceberg lettuce)

1/3 cup of roasted peanuts, chopped

METHOD

1. Cook rice following absorption method on packet. Remove from heat. Cover and stand for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Set aside to cool.

2. Meanwhile, heat a wok (I don’t have one :-() over medium heat. Add oil, lemon-grass and garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add pork and cook, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon, for 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add a 1/2 cup of cold water. Simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes or until water is absorbed. Stir in onion and pineapple. Set aside to cool.

3. Place fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce and 1/3 cup of lime juice in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Add sauce mixture and pork mixture to rice. Stir to combine. Arrange lettuce on a platter. Spoon over rice mixture and sprinkle with peanuts before serving.

*** It was very nice 🙂

Global grocery shopping

December 18, 2013 / Rainee / 4 Comments

This is probably a bit ‘out there’ but I thought it might be interesting to see what other people around the world (i.e. other bloggers) get in their weekly grocery order. I thought it could have a multicultural flavour to it and we could get a comparative idea about the cost of living in different places.

This list is recent and includes some special items for Christmas puddings and caters for some anticipated guests as well. I also get my groceries delivered and get the printed list above. I do confess to our weekly indulgence of chocolate and peanuts but I don’t smoke or drink :-).

What do you think? How does my diet compare to yours? Want to share your list? I feel quite vulnerable in a silly way, by sharing my shopping list. I would feel much more comfortable talking about the meaning of life …

cheers

Lorraine